Game Over, Pretty Boy. ♕ || STGOPB

♕ Chapter Two ♕ - Knock Knock...

I appreciated the gesture, but the panic still gnawed at me. I started counting under my breath, a small coping mechanism that sometimes helped when things felt too overwhelming. "One, two, three..."

Milo, ever observant, noticed the subtle movement of my lips. His brow furrowed in confusion as he leaned in slightly. "Riley," he asked, genuine concern in his voice, "are you okay?"

His question snapped me out of my counting, and I forced a small smile, trying to hide the storm inside. "Yeah, I'm fine, Milo. Just... a little distracted, that's all."

Milo couldn't seem to drop it. He leaned forward, his analytical mind already working overtime. "Distracted? Is it the lecture from yesterday? Or maybe you're thinking about the project we have coming up? Or—wait, did I say something earlier that threw you off? I know the joke was a bit—"

"Milo, please!" I snapped, more sharply than I intended. The words shot out before I could stop them, and the table fell into an awkward silence.

"Riley," Farkle said softly, his voice pulling me back. The calmness in his tone made me pause, and I realized how tightly I'd been gripping the edge of the table. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

I turned to Milo, who looked both confused and hurt. Regret washed over me as I placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Milo," I said, my voice softer this time. "I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just... there's a lot on my mind right now."

Milo's expression softened, but he didn't let it go. "I accept your apology, Riley. But I'm concerned. This isn't the first time in the past two days that you've seemed distracted. I don't mean to pry, but... are you sure everything's okay?"

His concern was genuine, and it made my chest tighten even more. I knew he was right; I hadn't been myself lately. But how could I explain that without unraveling everything I'd been trying to keep together? I gave him a small nod, appreciating his persistence even if it was hard to face.

Milo gave me a short, measured nod. "Alright, if you say so," he replied, his voice calm but still tinged with concern. I could tell he wasn't fully convinced, but he let it go for now.

Sensing the tension, Maya quickly jumped in, her voice bright as she tried to steer the conversation in a new direction. "So, my classmate Nia was raving about this place the other day. She said the chicken here is amazing. Like, life-changing amazing."

Farkle, always quick to support Maya's efforts, chimed in enthusiastically. "Yeah, I've heard the same! Apparently, they use some secret blend of spices that makes it extra juicy. We should definitely try it."

The shift in topic worked, the atmosphere at the table lightening a little. I could see Maya and Farkle exchanging relieved glances, both of them determined to keep things upbeat. I gave them a small, grateful smile, appreciating how they always knew when to step in and help. As the conversation turned to the menu and what we should order, I felt the weight on my shoulders ease just a bit, thankful for the distraction, even if it was only temporary.

Minutes had passed, and the table was now alive with conversation. Farkle and Milo had quickly fallen into their usual rhythm, pop-quizzing each other about obscure physics concepts that left most people baffled. Their back-and-forth banter was full of technical terms and theoretical debates, each trying to outdo the other with their knowledge.

Meanwhile, Maya leaned closer to me, her voice animated as she talked about an art assignment she and Nia had just finished. "We had to create something inspired by nature, but with a twist," she explained, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "So, Nia and I decided to use recycled materials and turn them into these crazy abstract sculptures. You should've seen the mess we made. But it turned out pretty cool, if I do say so myself."